Curtain stretching tongs



Dec. 25, 1951 ENG 2,579,913

CURTAIN STRETCHING TONGS Filed Sept. 19, 1947 5 4; a z fl f/ar (/9- E7 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAIN STRETCHING TONGS Ivar A. Eng, Youngstown, Ohio Application September 19, 1947, Serial No. 775,073

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to tongs, and more particularly to tongs adapted to grip a damp curtain to stretch and set the same over the pins of a curtain stretcher. Most curtain stretchers comprise a rectangular frame having a large number of forwardly-directed, equally-spaced, curtainstretching pins set in the same around the marginal portions thereof. In use, a freshly washed and still damp curtain is stretched over the frame so that the marginal portions of the curtain have the curtain frame pins passed therethrough and the curtain allowed to dry on said frame, whereby to retain its proper dimensions. The curtain-stretching pins of the frame are 'usually sharpened to facilitate the piercing of curtains formed of closely woven material. The usual curtain while wet or damp will be shrunk considerably under its normal dimensions whereby considerable eifort is required to stretch an edge portion of the curtain over a set of pins after an opposite edge portion has been anchored on an opposite set of pins. In so stretching the curtain, it is difiicult to avoid lacerating the fingers on the sharp pins. This is not only painful, but frequently results in blood stains on freshly washed curtains whereby to require rewashing of the same.

With the foregoing in view, an object of my invention is to provide improved tongs for stretching and setting a curtain on the pins of a curtain stretcher which will expedite such operation and also protect the fingers of the user.

A further object is to provide improved tongs for stretching a curtain over a curtain stretcher which is formed of low priced material, which can be readily cleaned to preventlstaining of the curtain in use, and which includes anti-slip gripping portions to maintain a tight grasp upon the curtain.

A further object is to provide improved tongs for stretching and setting a curtain on the sharpened pins of a curtain stretcher which include portions adapted to grip a curtain therebetween and which includes a substantially offset hand grip whereby the curtain gripping portions can be maneuvered in position to set marginal por tions of the curtain over the sharpened pins without bringing the hands into proximity to the sharpened points of the pins.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawings in connection with the following specifica- 2 tion, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pair of tongs according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same and shows the relation to a curtain stretcher and the sharpened pins thereof, the curtain stretcher being shown fragmentarily in transverse vertical section;

Figure 3is an end view of the tongs showing the same in use, the curtain and the curtain stretcher being shown fragmentarily in horizontal section.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, I0 designates a frame portion of a curtain stretcher having a plurality of curtain-stretching and supporting pins II. The tongs according to the invention comprise a hand grip l2 of any suitable conformation having a forward end I3 and a top surface Id. The top surface I4 is suitably formed to provide a recess l5 therein which extends longitudinally of the hand grip and opens through the front end IS. A thumb-pressed element trigger I6 is freely fitted in the recess I5 and pivoted to the hand grip f2 by any suitable transversely extending pivot means I1. Any suitable spring I8 is positioned in the floor of the recess IS. The spring l8 has portions bearing against the element I 6 to load the same for movement on the pivot l1 upwardly relative to the hand grip I2. The hand grip I2 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore l9 which opens through the front end l3. The front end I3 is formed with a laterally extending groove 20 therein which extends from the open front end of the bore l9 to one side of the hand grip.

The tong members of the device comprise separate upper and lower substantially Z-shaped members and the lower member thereof comprises a rear terminal portion or stem 2| which. is seated in the bore 19 of the grip. Such terminal portion 2| merges into a laterally directed portion 22 which is seated in the groove 28 of the front face l3 of the hand grip and such laterally directed portion in turn merges into a downwardly directed extension 23 which in turn merges into a forwardly directed gripping portion 24 which is downwardly offset relative to the hand grip a substantial distance. The gripping portion 24 is preferably surrounded by a tubular element 25 of resilient anti-slip material which is retained on the gripping portion 24 by any suitable washer 26 which is in turn retained in place by the upset free end 21 of such gripping portion.

The upper gripping member is adapted to be I movable relative to the lower gripping member and in the embodiment shown is formed to provide a pair of rear terminal portions29 which are seated in laterally spaced, longitudinally extending bores 28 formed in the movable member l6 of the hand grip. Such terminal portions 29 extend outwardly of the front face of the movable element It and are thereafter downwardly directed, as at 30, and may be twisted together, as at 3|; Thereafter, the extensions to are forwardly directed to provide gripping portions 32, 32' at least one of which is provided with a tubular anti-slip covering 33 which is superposed relative to the like gripping portion 25 of the lower gripping portion 26. may function as a depressor bar, as is later described. The gripping portions 32, 32' are connected at the forward end by an integral bight' 34 to thereby form a loop having a pair of spaced legs.

The operation of the device is readily understood from Figures 2'and 3, particularly the lata ter. The hand grip i2 is adapted to be gripped between the fingers of the user and the gripping portions, particularly the anti-slip members 25 and33, grip therebetween a marginal portion of a curtain or the like 35. The hand grip is then drawn outwardly relative to the frame In of the stretcher, whereby to position a marginal portion of the curtain 35 over the curtain pins H. Thereafter, the tongs are lowered until one or more of the pins ll penetrate the curtain materialto retain the same thereon. The tongs are now rocked in a clockwise direction, Figure 3, whereby the portion 32 functions as a depressor bar and forces the curtain 35 fiat against the frame Hi. This action obtains because the straight gripping portion or jaw 24, which is of circular cross section, may be positioned flat against the flat surface of the curtain stretcher when the curtain is applied to the tips of the nails of the stretcher. With the jaw in this position, it is rollable on the flat surface of the stretcher.

The depressor bar 32' is thus shifted in an arcuate path bodily about the jaw 2 3, engaging the curtain near the location at which the curtain is impaled on the tip of a, nail, and forcing the curtain to thebase of the nail. Release of thumb pressure on the element l6 causes the gripping portions to release their grip on the curtain material and permit ready withdrawal of such gripping portions from the curtain. By providing the grippingmembers, particularly the gripping portions,. of heavy gauge wire, as shown, elongated and relatively narrow gripping portions are provided which are readily extensible between adjacent stretcher pins ii without entanglement therewith. However, the use of wire for tongs of this kind requires provision toprevent turning of the rear terminal portions in the hand grip. This is accomplished in the case of the lower gripping member by the lateral extension 22 thereof and thegroove 29 in the front end face of the'hand grip. In the case of the upper gripping member; thisisaccomplished by the laterally spaced' bores 28 in the movable element I6. Inasmuch as the upper gripping member must undergo most of the gripping pressure, it is preferably-formed as shown of a doubled lengthof The gripping portion 32 heavy gauge wire, whereby to provide a gripping element substantially stiffer than the lower gripping member. As is clearly shown in Figure 3, and Figure 2, upwardly offsetting the hand grip relative to the gripping portions enables the fingers of the user to remain at all times in substantially distantly spaced relation to the points of the pins H. The anti-slip members 25 and 33 are preferably formed of rubber tubing, whereby they may be readily cleaned to prevent soiling of the curtains.

. While I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions.

hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Tongs to apply a curtain to the nails of a stretcher, comprising pivotally joined tong members having jaws at one endshaped to engage a curtain between them for application thereof to the tips of the nails, one at least of the jaws being straight from end to end so as to be in contact throughout its length with a fiat surface of a stretcher when the curtain is so applied, said one jaw being of circular cross section for rolling engagement with said surface; and a straight depressor bar parallel to said one jaw and rigid wit-ht; e other jaw, said bar being shifte'dbodily in an arcuate path about said one jaw responsive to rollable movement of said one jaw on the stretcher, to engage the curtain near the location at which the curtain is impaled on a nail tip and force the curtain to the base of the nail.

2. Tongs to apply a curtain to the nails ofa stretcher, comprising a hand grip; a first tong member rigid at one end therewith; a second tong member pivotally connected at one end to the hand grip; first and second jaws at the other ends of the respective members disposed side by side so as-to contact one another from end to end thereof when shifted to a closing position, thus to engage a curtain between them for ap-' plication of the curtain to the tips of the nails, said jaws being straight from end to end and being arranged wholly within a common plane nor-'- mal to the axis of pivotal movement of the second tong member, the first .jaw being adapted to contact throughout its length a fiat surface of the stretcher when the curtain is so applied and being of circular cross section to roll on said surface; and a straight depressor bar parallel to the first jaw and rigid with the second jaw, the bar being shifted bodily in an arcuate path about the first jaw responsive to rolling of the first jaw'on the stretcher, to engage the curtain near the location at which the curtain is impaled on a nail tip and force the curtain to the base of the nail.

IVAR A. ENG.

REFERENCES CITED -The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,213,843" Dougherty Feb. 24, 1942 

